How different groups will interact with spatial planning

Local authorities

Local authorities own the spatial plan that is adopted for their region and must put it into effect through their land use and natural environment plans, and other planning documents. Each local authority will help develop the plan through governance and operational roles set out in the process agreement. More guidance on process agreements, committees and secretariats will be provided soon.

Where a local authority is part of more than one region, it must participate in at least one regional spatial plan, but does not need to be involved in every plan that affects it.

Councils can also work together on content for particular areas. This may include sub-regional content that reflects local issues and opportunities, or inter-regional content where growth or change affects neighbouring regions. Neighbouring councils may also choose to develop a joint regional spatial plan.

Iwi authorities

The regional spatial plan must be prepared in accordance with relevant iwi participation legislation or agreement, or iwi participation agreements. The spatial plan committee must consult with iwi authorities in the region on the content of the regional spatial plan before a draft is notified for submissions and must have regard to any iwi planning documents.

The spatial plan committee must consult with any customary marine title group that holds customary marine title over a customary marine title area in the region on the subject matter of the regional spatial plan as it relates to the coastal marine area. This must be done before the draft is notified for submissions. The spatial plan committee must also consider any customary marine title group planning document.

When making decisions about future infrastructure locations identified through the regional spatial planning process that may affect identified Māori land, spatial plan committees, local authorities and the Minister must act in a manner that recognises identified Māori land as taonga tuku iho. They must also consider the rights and interests of its owners to retain, control, use and occupy their land for the benefit of present and future generations of owners, their whānau and their hapū.

Iwi authorities must be provided with a draft regional spatial plan before it is notified for submissions, with sufficient time to consider and provide advice.

Relevant customary marine title groups must be provided with parts of a draft regional spatial plan that relate to the coastal marine area before it is notified for submissions, with sufficient time to consider and provide advice.

Iwi authorities and customary marine title groups may also submit on the draft regional spatial plan. If they submit, they have certain rights of appeal that apply to all submitters.

Infrastructure providers including designating authorities

The spatial plan committee must consult with infrastructure providers identified in the process agreement on the content of the draft regional spatial plan before it is notified for submissions.

The committee must also invite designating authorities to request that the indicative location of a future designation be identified in the draft plan, or that a proposed designation or alteration to an existing designation be included.

Infrastructure providers may submit on the draft regional spatial plan. If they submit, they have certain rights of appeal.

Designating authorities must make decisions on independent hearings panel recommendations on proposed designations in the draft plan.

Development and other sectors

The spatial plan committee must consult with representatives of the development sector and other sector groups as identified in the process agreement before notifying the draft regional spatial plan for submissions.

Representatives from the development sector and other sector groups can make submissions on the draft regional spatial plan and, if they do, have certain appeal rights.

Community groups and individuals

The spatial plan committee must consult with representatives of the wider community as identified in the process agreement before notifying the draft regional spatial plan for submissions.

Community groups and individuals may submit on the draft regional spatial plan. If they submit, they have certain rights of appeal.

How regional spatial plans work with other instruments and plans

Find out how regional spatial plans fit with other parts of the planning system.

Spatial planning guidance, training and events

Find out about training and events to support spatial planning.